There are so m a n y c u l i n a r y options on Phuket that it is often quite bewildering. Italian, French, Japanese, Mexican – they can all be found, from town to
around the island. Plenty of restaurants serve delicious Thai fare, from Royal cuisine to regional offerings. But if you are here on holiday then you owe it to yourself to try something different. You need to try some of the dishes that sustain Thai people day to day and go home having eaten the country's real favourites. Food stalls are
where the majority of Thai people eat on a daily basis. You will see them at the side
of the road scattered all over the island.

Perhaps you are a little scared to try the local delicacies, having heard stories of stomach complaints and hygiene issues, but the majority of food stalls, although
cooking in a simple way, actually have extremely good health standards, and the big "Clean Food, Good Taste" signs with the smiling chef that are placed in a lot of
these stalls indicate they have been checked and passed for quality control. Another indicator is how many Thai people are already eating at the stalls.The
more popular a food station, the fresher the food, as it is constantly being cooked and sold. You will also find that certain dishes are sold at different times of the
day, so here's a guide to the street feast.

Breakfast
While not being food you might
recognize as normal morning fare, Thai
breakfasts are generally available from early
morning until about 11am. Fried chicken is a
popular choice and much tastier than KFC,
while "Kanom Chin" - thin noodles in green
curry sauce is not for the faint-hearted as it
tends to be very spicy, but fabulously tasty.
For less strong constitutions Khao Tom - rice
soup with chicken and garlic - is a great option,
and also popular as a remedy for hangovers
and bad stomachs.

Lunch & Dinner
Throughout the rest of the day there
are a lot of options available and you will find
that most food stalls specialize in one particular
type of dish. "Khao Man Gai", which is chicken
rice with a rich, spicy brown sauce is one of
the most commonly found dishes. "Gway
Teo Nam" or noodle soup with lots of
vegetables and fish balls or shredded pork is
also a popular choice. "Som Tam" of course
is eaten daily by many Thai people. It is a
spicy papaya salad with peanuts , lemon and
chili and an invigorating snack or starter. For
a more substantial feed, North Eastern food
like "Larb" with minced pork, herbs and
spices is also plentiful and often comes with
sticky rice. Good desserts are a little thinner
on the ground, but the most delicious sweet
snack is definitely mango and sticky rice with
coconut milk, of course only available when
mangoes are in season.Sometimes food stalls
have a few small tables outside with childsized
chairs next to them so you can eat right
on the spot, watching the local life pass by.
Another option is to order take-away. But don't
be surprised if rather than the usual foam
container, you receive a clear plastic bag with
your lunch carefully tied at the top with an
elastic band. You then take this back to your place of residence, decant onto a plate and
dig in – or eat straight from the bag if you
can't wait that long.This type of food is not
only plentiful, delicious and usually extremely
fresh, but also unbelievably cheap. So if you
are on a budget there is no better way to fill
up and experience local cuisine at the same
time. Even if you aren't short of cash, you
can certainly spice up your holiday by trying
some authentic local delicacies, so leap in
and enjoy some of the best food on the
island.